As of December 31, 2014, Fargo’s Persona C30e and DTC550 is no longer be supported by Fargo. While ASAP Identification does have some parts in stock to support these printers, we cannot get more parts from Fargo. We will do our best to keep these printers going for you but it may be time to consider an upgrade.

If you’re still using a Fargo DTC550, C30, C30e, DTC400 or DTC400e, now is a great time to look at a newer model printer.

Please contact us to discuss what option is best for you at 317-488-1030 or info@asapident.com

This guide describes the process for enabling a card printer/encoder to communicate with print ribbon and overlaminate consumables that have radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. The affected printers use consumables with tags that must be transitioned to an upgraded RFID technology. The procedure described in this publication supports the transition to the new RFID technology.

HID Global will be upgrading the RFID communication technology utilized by some print ribbon and overlaminate consumables used in FARGO Card Printer/Encoders beginning in October 2013. After HID implements the new technology, most in-field printers and laminators that were manufactured before mid-2010 will require a firmware update to ensure compatibility with the new consumables technology.

Affected printer models include:

FARGO DTC300 and M30/M30e

Persona C30/C30e

FARGO DTC400/DTC400e

FARGO DTC550 and DTC550-LC

FARGO HDP5000 and HDP5000-LC

FARGO DTC4500-LC

To make this transition as seamless as possible for you and your end-user customers, HID is taking the following actions:

End-user letter – Written by HID, this letter can be passed along to your customers to alert them to the changes.

FAQ – This document will help answer questions that you or your customers may have.

Early channel notification – HID will not begin the transition process until October 2013.

Workbench 3.0 Utility – Available at http://www.hidglobal.com/15325 for free, this utility will easily allow end users to update printer firmware and drivers.

End-user Customers:

After the transition occurs, HID will communicate the requirement to update firmware to end-user customers via a slip sheet that is added to the print ribbon and overlaminate consumables for the affected product lines.

Additionally, all affected printer model lines manufactured since mid-2010 have been shipped from HID Global with firmware that will support the new RFID communication technology. Therefore, many current printer users who purchase consumables with the new RFID communication technology will not need to update their firmware.

Users who are impacted by the change will receive an error message when trying to use new consumables in affected printers. These users will be required to update the printer and/or laminator firmware to add support for HID’s new RFID technology. HID will provide technical support for you and for your customers via our website. The support URL will be included in the packaging of all consumables using the new RFID technology after the transition has occurred.

If you have any questions regarding this transition, we can be reached at 317-488-1030 or info@asapident.com.

If you get an error “ribbon miscue” while printing with your Fargo HDP5000 you can first try the following actions to resolve the issue and resume printing:

Go to START/PRINTERS & FAXES and find your HDP5000 print driver.

Select it, right click and go to PRINTING PREFERENCES.

Select the “Card” tab.

Click on the “Tool box.”

Select Calibrate Ribbon and follow the directions provided.

Begin printing your cards again.

If you continue to have issues, please call us @ 317-488-1030 to discuss next steps or, possibly, a service call. ASAP Identification is a Fargo Authorized Service Provider and we can handle all your Fargo service needs.

Check your printer settings by viewing Printing Preferences. For example, dye sub values too high can cause ribbon to overheat and break. You can select “DEFAULT” and see if that improves the printing process and then, slowly, increase dye sub intensity.

If you take these steps and continue to have a ribbon break, please give us a call and set up a time for printer service. We can be reached at 317-488-1030 or info@asapident.com.